Ten months ago, Frank Francisco and cash brought the Rangers two years of Mike Napoli. After a season with the Blue Jays, Francisco is now a free agent, and MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers have expressed interest in bringing him back. So far, the Mets have also been linked to Francisco.
Francisco, 32, posted a 3.55 ERA, 9.4 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 1.2 HR/9, and 38.6% groundball rate in 50 2/3 innings this year. He was diagnosed in March with tightness in his right pectoral and biceps inflammation, which delayed his season debut until April 20th. He bounced in and out of Toronto's closer role, saving 17 games in 21 opportunities. The Rangers are very open to the idea of moving Neftali Feliz to the rotation next year, which may create a need at the back end of the bullpen even with summer acquisitions Mike Adams and Koji Uehara under team control.
oh this head case?
Now they’re just trying to rub it in.
Jon Daniels just wants to see who he can steal from someone using Francisco again
Well if he “stole” from the Blue Jays, they sure didn’t put up a fight…
AA’s only blemish so far
Only?
what am I missing?
Well, not really. Stats don’t transfer directly; I don’t think Napoli would have been the same player if he were with the Jays, playing in different stadiums, against different teams, and getting far less playing tme. Not to mention the fact that the guy isn’t a “future piece” of the kind Anthopoulos wants to acquire, and wouldn’t be any kind of long-term fit for them.
Yes, tell us what else he’s done wrong so far? And even then, who the hell predicted Napoli to do what he’s done this year? I sure as hell didn’t.
I’m not saying anyone predicted him to put up a .444 wOBA, but I think most people would have expected him to be a very productive bat, posting around a .350 wOBA or so.
Yeah that’s true, but I can see where AA was coming from. They wanted Arencibia to have a chance to be an everyday catcher and they needed bullpen support.
I’d like to have Frankie back if he’s willing to. He was a good reliever and a good guy. We need the relief help too.
As long as he’s not MENTIONED for the closing role. Every time he’s put in there he’s failed EVERY TIME!! When not closing he puts up nuimbers like Juaquin Benoit seriously! But put him into closer slot and he’ll struggle like CJ in the playoffs. Since Texas may just be looking for a closer… I certainly hope Francisco is NOT the answer.
He did fine when he replaced CJ as the closer in 2009. They could do worse. That being said, he’s not my first choice either and realistically with some of the guys we have already on the roster and guys that are available I doubt he’d be anything more than a solid right handed arm out of the pen. Which I’d be fine with.
And now that we’ve signed Nathan my suspicion is confirmed. Still wouldn’t mind taking a flyer on Frankie. I think we’re going to see a trade or two before this offseason is said and done. Guys to keep an eye on are Colby, Matt Harrison, and Koji.
I would go after Cordero, Francisco, and Rauch. Those three along with Adams, Lowe and Feldman would make up a great bullpen. Then you go ahead and trade Uehara.
Rauch… No